Toddlers and preschool-aged children need a lot of physical activity* each day to support their growing bodies and minds. Much of it happens in childcare where they spend most of the day. From outdoor time to music and movement to circle time dance parties, it all helps children be healthy and ready to learn!
Application Documentation
On your REACH Physical Activity application, you will upload documentation of offering ample time for physical activity; along with a variety of portable play equipment to support movement; games and activities that help children build motor skills; and including physical activity in the facility’s written policy.
| REACH Application Documentation | Go NAPSACC Best Practice |
| You will provide documentation for only the age groups served by the facility: One weekly schedule from one preschool-aged classroom (3’s or Pre-K) that shows there are a total of 120 minutes each day for physical activity* (indoors and outdoors) on the schedule (half-day: 60). One weekly schedule from one toddler-aged classroom (toddlers or 2’s) that shows there are a total of 90 minutes each day for physical activity* (indoors and outdoors) on the schedule (half-day: 45). One weekly schedule from your family child care home that shows there are a total of 90 minutes each day (half-day: 45) for physical activity* (indoors and outdoors) on the schedule. | PA1 Preschool children are provided 120 minutes or more for indoor and outdoor physical activity each day. (Half-day: 60 minutes or more.)* PA2 Toddlers are provided 90 minutes or more for indoor and outdoor physical activity each day. (Half-day: 45 minutes or more.)* |
*Physical activity is any movement of the body that increases heart rate and breathing above what it would be if a child was sitting or resting. Examples include walking, running, crawling, climbing, jumping, and dancing. Outdoor time on the schedule counts as physically active time. Music and movement, physically active games during transitions, and circle time counts too.
Tips for your documentation:
- Provide only one weekly schedule for one classroom in each of the age groups served by the facility.
- Circle or highlight when on the schedule children are given time for physical activity indoors and outdoors so that reviewers can see that you are meeting the best practice. If things like physically active transition and movement during circle time are not included on the schedule, you may make notes on the schedule or in the space on the application provided for notes.
- Examples must be from the past 12 months.
Example documentation:
In the left-most column, this example schedule from a preschool classroom shows 2 hours blocked for outdoor activity. This meets the best practice requirement for physical activity. This example was dated within a year of the application. One example that meets the best practices must be uploaded for each age-level served by the facility to satisfy the “Time for Physically Active Play” documentation requirements.
REACH Recognition 